M-U hires 5 new staff members

WEST MILTON — The Milton-Union Board of Education supports the Milton-Union Public Library tax levy.

The proposed tax levy, which the board voted unanimously to pass on June 16, will be a renewal of the tax that covers the library’s current expenses. The tax rate will not exceed seven-tenths, or 0.70, mill for each one dollar of valuation. The amount would total seven cents for each $100 of valuation over the period of five years.

Scheduled to start in 2015 and be first due in 2016, the renewal levy will be on the ballot in the general election on Nov. 4.

Milton-Union Superintendent Ginny Rammel announced that the district has hired five new staff members for the 2014-2015 school year, including a new band teacher following the resignation of middle school music teacher and band director Ron Duncan.

Taking over Duncan’s position is Zachary Roberts. According to Rammel, the music faculty and boosters collaborated to ensure they were making the best pick for the district.

“Let me tell you first how we did it,” Rammel said. “We actually had Bob Mohr join us on behalf of the band boosters… Bob, Kellie Mahaney, Katie Hartley and Scott Bloom did a wonderful job of first round interviews.”

The four then selected their top picks for second round interviews, and Roberts got the position.

“He has taught at New Lebanon-Dixie for seven years, has a little girl who is two years and just a doll, is an OSU grad, and he dotted the ‘I’… he takes them on musically educated field trips, such as to OSU, Miami University, and Akron.

Tiffany Hislope, president of the Music Boosters, came with a group of students who were enthusiastic about Roberts starting with the district in August.

“We are just looking forward to working with him,” Hislope said. “I know all of the kids are looking forward to meeting him and we all are looking forward to a great year.”

Rammel also shared some information about the four other new employees. Jessica Baisden, who taught in Vandalia schools for eight years, is now going to be a teacher at Milton-Union Elementary School.

Along with Baisden, Amber Evans will begin teaching at the elementary school. Rammel shared that Evans taught for a year at a Dayton charter school with 37 children in one class, so she was definitely well-prepared for the job in the elementary school.

Alumnus Gary Michael Rohr, who graduated in 1991, accepted a position as a teacher at the middle school in addition to coaching track for many years at Milton-Union, and Amy Hill Kerr will be starting as a Gifted Intervention Specialist. Rammel praised Kerr’s background, and shared with the board that in the first four days that the open position was posted, there were over 200 applicants.

The next board of education meeting is at 6:30 p.m. July 21 in the board conference room.

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